Military, Society, Uncategorized

Memorial Day, The Misunderstood Holiday

Submitted by Charlton Stanley (Otteray Scribe), Guest Blogger

Easter Dogwood
View from Tim’s grave at the National Cemetery
Photo by Charlton Stanley (his father)

Friday I was reading another blog, and was stunned and appalled to read this opening line in a post (emphasis mine):

“For most of us, Memorial Day is a joyous occasion. We may think of idyllic, lazy summer days of childhood, whole months away from school. Our greatest concern might well be the inevitable traffic jams created when large groups of people head for the same destination at the same time.”

Many, including the person who wrote the statement above, mistake Veteran’s Day for Memorial Day. The day does not celebrate the veteran. It is a day of remembrance for those who never had a chance to become a veteran. Veteran’s Day is November 11, formerly called Armistice Day.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The exact origin of the custom of decorating the graves of those who gave all in service to the country is shrouded by the mists of time and folklore. Memorial Day became official when General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued his General Order No. 11 on 5 May 1868. The first official Memorial Day observance was 30 May 1868. On that day, flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  Every year until 1971, Memorial Day was observed on May 30. In 1971, the National Holiday Act of 1971 was passed, making Memorial Day part of a three-day weekend.  When Memorial Day became just another long weekend with a day off from work, it began to lose its meaning as a day of remembrance and reflection. The VFW’s official proclamation in 2002 stated in part,

“Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”

In 1999, Senator Dan Inouye introduced a bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30 instead of “the last Monday in May”. The same year, Representative Gibbons introduced a bill in the house saying the same thing. Both bills were referred to Committee. Every year until his death, Senator Inouye re-introduced the bill. If anyone had the credentials to speak for veterans everywhere, it was Senator Inouye; one of the few members of Congress awarded the Medal of Honor. I hope that one day, Memorial Day will return to the original May 30. Every year that passes, a bit more of the real meaning of the day is lost.

IGTNTLogoRevised-1-2We owe it to the dead to honor their memory. It does not matter the war, the cause, or the politics.  For every one of those marble slabs in the Gardens of Stone, some parent or loved one got that terrible, awful knock on the door.  When I was young, it seemed as if every other house had a gold star in the front window. Those memories are still fresh, even after all those decades. A series has been running on the Daily Kos blog called IGTNT (I Got The News Today). The series honors and remembers those Americans who lost their lives in combat or military operations in the war zone. Their names and pictures are there. Read them and weep for the loved ones left only with memories.

Flowers_of_the_forest_skene_manuscript
Flowres of the Forrest
From the Skene Manuscripts

Shortly after the bloody battle at Flodden Field in 1513, one of the members of Clan Skene composed Flowers of the Forest as a lament for the Scots who perished in that terrible battle. It was probably composed originally for the harp, however; it was quickly adapted for the bagpipes. It was lost for about a century, until it was found in the Skene Manuscripts as “Flowres of the Forrest.” The original pipe tune did not have lyrics. In 1756, Jean Elliot wrote lyrics for the tune.  Piping Flowers of the Forest has become traditional in the UK for military memorial services. The custom has spread to the US, and is often requested. Flowers of the Forest was piped for my son at his service in the National Cemetery. Because of the somber meaning of the lyrics and tune, pipers will not play or practice Flowers of the Forest in public. Public airing of the ancient tune is reserved for remembrance of the dead.

Flowers of the Forest refers to the soldiers. “The flowers of the forest are all wede away,” means they are all withered away, dead. Centuries later, the flowers theme would be reprised when Roy Williamson composed Flower of Scotland, which has become the National Anthem. This is Ronnie Browne singing Jean Elliot’s lyrics on the actual battlefield at Flodden, now peaceful meadowland.

Flowers of the Forest

By Jean Elliot, (1727 – 1805)

I’ve heard them liltin’, at the ewe milkin,’
Lasses a-liltin’ before dawn of day.
Now there’s a moanin’, on ilka green loanin’.
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.

As boughts in the mornin’, nae blithe lads are scornin’,
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin’, nae gabbin’, but sighin’ and sobbin’,
Ilk ane lifts her leglin, and hies her away.

At e’en in the gloamin’, nae swankies are roamin’,
‘Mang stacks wi’ the lasses at bogle to play.
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin’ her dearie,
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.

In har’st at the shearin’ nae youths now are jeerin’
Bandsters are runkled, and lyart, or grey.
At fair or at preachin’, nae wooin’, nae fleecin’,
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.

Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
the English for ance by guile wan the day.
The flowers of the forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay.

We’ll hae nae mair liltin’, at the ewe milkin’,
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighin’ and moanin’ on ilka green loanin’,
The flowers of the forest are all wede away.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
Major Michael O’Donnell

Vietnam had its iconic poems, tunes and laments as well. One of the more famous poems was by a helicopter pilot; Major Michael Davis O’Donnell.  This was written on New Year’s Day, 1970 at Dak To. Major O’Donnell was killed three months later when his helicopter was shot down with twelve souls aboard. His helicopter was hit by ground fire while rescuing troops who had come under heavy fire.

By Major Michael Davis O’Donnell

If you are able, save them a place inside you,
And save one backward glance when you are leaving,
for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them,
though you may, or may not have always.
Take what they have left, and what they have
taught you with their dying, and keep it as your own.

And in that time that when men decide, and feel safe,
to call the war insane, take one moment,
to embrace these gentle heroes you left behind.

There are many poems, essays and songs appropriate for Memorial Day, and for Memorial Day weekend. Some have special meaning for me. Joe Kilna MacKenzie wrote Sgt. MacKenzie in memory of his grandfather, Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders. Joe lost his own battle with cancer in 2009.

About his grandfather, Joe wrote:

“To the best of my knowledge, and taken from reports of the returning soldiers, one of his close friends fell, badly wounded. Charles stood his ground and fought until he was overcome and died from bayonet wounds. On that day, my great grandmother and my grandmother were sitting at the fire when the picture fell from the wall. My great grandmother looked, and said to my grandmother “Oh, my bonnie Charlie’s dead”. Sure enough, a few days passed, and the local policeman brought the news – that Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie had been killed in action. This same picture now hangs above my fireplace. A few years back my wife Christine died of cancer, and in my grief, I looked at his picture to ask what gave him the strength to go on. It was then, in my mind, that I saw him lying on the field and wondered what his final thoughts were. The words and music just appeared into my head. I believe the men and woman like yourself who are prepared to stand their ground for their family – for their friends – and for their country; deserve to be remembered, respected and honoured. “Sgt. MacKenzie”, is my very small tribute to them.”

Sgt. MacKenzie was featured in the soundtrack of the movie, We Were Soldiers. The cover photo in the video is Sergeant MacKenzie.

Eric Bogle wrote several songs about the futility and waste of war, two of the most famous being Green Fields of France, and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.  Lesser known is My Youngest Son Came Home Today. Eric says Mary Black, as a woman and mother, sings it far better than he ever could. Here is Mary Black with My Youngest Son Came Home Today.

Memorial Day is for remembering and honoring those who died in the service of their country. Please share your own special remembrances, poems or songs.

175 thoughts on “Memorial Day, The Misunderstood Holiday”

  2. I think of my maternal grandfather, who fought all through WW1 with the Durham Light Infantry on the Western Front, ending as Regimental Sergeant Major. RSM Frost was gassed in 1918, and died ‘of wounds’ in 1919. He was buried with full military honours.

  4. OS, your post brought a flood of memories. It was still called “Decoration Day” in my family and we went to the cemeteries (in my family there were Marines, Army & Sailors) to clean up and lay flowers and flags. WWII was not over yet and we passed many Gold Stars hanging in windows as we walked to the cemetery. Thanks for the memories.

  5. nick spinelli 1, May 26, 2013 at 11:48 am

    … You would be appalled[maybe not] @ how many teachers, w/ anti-military beliefs, refuse to teach about Memorial Day and are more than happy for their students to think it’s just the end of the school year. Now, their parents should also be teaching their kids, but any shithead can be a parent. Teachers are supposed to teach this basic civics lesson. I’ve had a few discussions w/ teachers[I’m talking history teachers] on this topic. They’re dug in deep.
    ==================================
    I think that illustrates the point that war is not in the religion of the people, it is a religion of the military:

    Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship … voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.

    (The Universal Smedley, linked in quote to bettykath, quoting: General Hermann Goering, Gilbert, G., 1995. Nuremberg Diary. New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 278–279. ISBN 0306806614).

  7. bettykath 1, May 26, 2013 at 11:56 am

    Young men, and now young women, go to war based on propaganda. They think they are going to serve their country but they are really going to serve the war profiteers. A much better way to honor them is to stop the wars, to become a lawful nation in observing the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
    ===============================
    The possibly most decorated soldier Marine General Smedley Butler agrees with you:

    “We are divided, in America, into two classes: The Tories on one side, a class of citizens who were raised to believe that the whole of this country was created for their sole benefit, and on the other side, the other 99 per cent of us, the soldier class, the class from which all of you soldiers came. That class hasn’t any privileges except to die when the Tories tell them. Every war that we have ever had was gotten, up by that class. They do all the beating of the drums. Away the rest of us go. When we leave, you know what happens. We march down the street with all the Sears-Roebuck soldiers standing on the sidewalk, all the dollar-a-year men with spurs, all the patriots who call themselves patriots, square-legged women in uniforms making Liberty Loan speeches. They promise you. You go down the street and they ring all the church bells. Promise you the sun, the moon, the stars and the earth,–anything to save them. Off you go. Then the looting commences while you are doing the fighting. This last war made over 6,000 millionaires. Today those fellows won’t help pay the bill.”

    (The Universal Smedley). The statesman who was called “The Father of the Constitution” who wrote “The Bill of Rights“, who was also a cabinet member, congressman, and finally President of the U.S., was of your opinion too:

    Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied: and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. Those truths are well established.

    (The Greatest Source Of Power Toxins?). I guess we can test President Madison’s hypothesis by asking “have wars increased over the past decade or so, and have we lost rights and increased public debt during that same time frame?”

  8. rb137,
    Thank you for stopping in.

    Perhaps it would be a good idea to take your daughter to the nearest National Cemetery on Memorial Day. Explain to her the meaning of all those stones, and why they are there. Make a history lesson of it. She is old enough now to develop some understanding.

  9. One more reason to go “back to basics”. Enlightening article Chuck.

  10. raff, it is my honor to thank you. Since you cannot make it to Arlington, perhaps you can go to your nearest National Cemetery and spend some time reflecting. Your dad would approve. Those were his buddies–all of them. Heroes are always about the buddies, not patriotic abstractions. Just like Sergeant MacKenzie.

  11. OS,
    Thank you. It is an especially important day tomorrow for our family and your family and many families throughout the country. Far too many. As I mentioned, I just wish I could spend it at Arlington. Great video and song.

  12. raff,
    You and your family were very much in my mind as I wrote this piece.

    May Captain Lawrence Rafferty have Godspeed on his journey to forever…

    May the ball stay centered, there be no turbulence and the glideslope never waver as he flies west into the sunset. We remember. It is our duty to remember them.

  13. My regards to you this weekend.

    My husband and I are caught in a bit of a culture divide over Memorial Day. I grew up going to cemeteries to spruce up headstones and lay flowers on them, attending Legion and VFW functions — always something that observed the holiday directly. My husband’s family treated it as a three day weekend to kick off the summer.

    I think it’s fair to say that because his family doesn’t have any military people in it, they don’t appreciate the meaning of Memorial Day. Sure, the meaning hasn’t gotten by them, but it’s about something that happened to an identifiable other. The vision remains inside their own backyard and barbeque, so to speak, because the pain happened in someone else’s. This is really common — and when you consider the low percentage of Americans that serve, maybe it isn’t surprising.

    So, thanks for your post here. I do think that if folks just stopped to think about it a moment, they would be more observant.

  14. OS,
    Great post. It is true that the real meaning of Memorial Day can get lost in our daily lives. I like to think of it that all of the heroes that we celebrate and remember on Memorial Day would want us to have barbeques and fly our flags. I truly believe that they are with us at those celebrations. I was especially touched with the poem from the Vietnam helicopter pilot. I wish I could be at Arlington tomorrow to see the stones with all of the flags.

  15. Young men, and now young women, go to war based on propaganda. They think they are going to serve their country but they are really going to serve the war profiteers. A much better way to honor them is to stop the wars, to become a lawful nation in observing the Kellogg-Briand Pact.

  16. OS, Another great post. You would be appalled[maybe not] @ how many teachers, w/ anti-military beliefs, refuse to teach about Memorial Day and are more than happy for their students to think it’s just the end of the school year. Now, their parents should also be teaching their kids, but any shithead can be a parent. Teachers are supposed to teach this basic civics lesson. I’ve had a few discussions w/ teachers[I’m talking history teachers] on this topic. They’re dug in deep.

  17. Wow! We owe our veterans! Happy Memorial Day to all of our past, present, and future veterans. We appreciate everything that you done (or will do for future vets).

  19. War has become a religion of the Wartocracy.

    So it is remarkable that the Memorial Day holy day, now called “holiday”, is going the way Otteray Scribe succinctly points out to us.

    Perhaps that is because it is not the religion of the people, but as in the Roman Empire’s Military, is mainly the religion of the military?

  20. Thanks OS…. You’re absolutely correct that holidays loose there meanings….beautiful bag pipes….

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